Structural Basis for Developing Multitarget Compounds Acting on Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor 1 and G-Protein-Coupled Bile Acid Receptor

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the molecular target of 40% of marketed drugs and the most investigated structures to develop novel therapeutics. Different members of the GPCRs superfamily can modulate the same cellular process acting on diverse pathways, thus representing an attractive opportunity to achieve multitarget drugs with synergic pharmacological effects. Here, we present a series of compounds with dual activity toward cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLT(1)R) and G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 (GPBAR1). They are derivatives of REV5901-the first reported dual compound-with therapeutic potential in the treatment of colitis and other inflammatory processes. We report the binding mode of the most active compounds in the two GPCRs, revealing unprecedented structural basis for future drug design studies, including the presence of a polar group opportunely spaced from an aromatic ring in the ligand to interact with Arg79(2.60) of CysLT(1)R and achieve dual activity.

Automated summary

GPCRs are important molecular targets for drug development, with potential for multitarget drugs. Compounds with dual activity towards CysLT(1)R and GPBAR1 show promise in treating inflammatory diseases such as colitis. The binding mode of these compounds reveals structural basis for future drug design studies.